From Waste to Resource: Evaluation of the Technical and Environmental Performance of Concrete Blocks Made from Iron Ore Tailings

Luciana Chaves Weba (), Júlia Maria Medalha Resende Oliveira, Alberto José Corrêa de Souza, Ludimila Gomes Antunes, José Maria Franco de Carvalho and Wanna Carvalho Fontes ()
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Luciana Chaves Weba: Department of Civil Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Júlia Maria Medalha Resende Oliveira: Department of Urban Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Alberto José Corrêa de Souza: Department of Civil Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Ludimila Gomes Antunes: Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
José Maria Franco de Carvalho: Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
Wanna Carvalho Fontes: Department of Urban Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: This study investigates the use of iron ore tailings (IOTs) as recycled aggregates in segmental blocks, focusing on technical performance, CO 2 emissions, and embodied energy using the cradle-to-gate approach. IOTs replaced fine aggregates in concrete at 25%, 50%, and 75% by volume, achieving compressive strengths of 16.23 MPa, 10.02 MPa, and 3.93 MPa, respectively. Raw material production accounted for 98% of CO 2 emissions and 86% of embodied energy. Producing blocks at mining sites offered limited environmental benefits due to longer transport distances. Despite this, the results showed a 6% reduction in CO 2 emissions and a 35% improvement in mechanical–environmental performance (CO 2 emissions weighted by compressive strength) compared to traditional concrete. These findings underscore the potential of IOT-based concrete for segmental block production.

Keywords: iron ore tailings; concrete LCA; recycled aggregates; sustainable concrete; segmental blocks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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